What: 1998 VFR800FI
Where: Rockville, Maryland
Why: Low miles, desirable model
Price: No reserve auction

The fifth-generation Interceptor is a "tweener"  model; still employing the trademark gear-driven cams, but pre-VTEC. Produced from 1998-2001, some consider this to be the best of both worlds. With a slight bump in bore and stroke, displacement went from 748cc to 781cc. Power went up a tiny bit, but the big news for 1998 was the addition of fuel injection. This brought the VFR series into the modern era and could now comply with tightening emissions worldwide while allowing tuning options never available with the old carburetors. Add in the new, lighter "Tune-Flex" chassis and linked brakes, and it was obvious that Honda's sport touring platform had just taken a leap forward.

Our example today is a first-year 800 and shows only 15,263 miles. The photos show the addition of a Two Brothers Racing slip-on muffler and Corbin leather seat. The seller indicates normal wear & tear plus some rash on the left-side headlight fairing. Checking Partsfish.com, I see that the fairing is still available ($405) in Italian Red. Considering the low miles and otherwise great-looking condition, this might be worth the $$ to replace with new. With some basic detailing this bike could be an exceptional rider. Bidding is at only $1525 with no reserve and ends on Monday. Some buyer might get lucky on this one.

What: 1986 VFR750F RC24
Where: Monticello, Indiana
Why: Clean & original
Price: $3500

Ten years ago, nice, original second-gen VFRs were more available, at least in my experience. As time goes by the supply of good ones sleeping in barns and garages just waiting to be rescued seems to be diminishing. And good examples that have been loved and kept on the road aren't so common either. But here's one.

With the ad indicating 30,000 miles but the odometer showing 34,867 (if my eyes don't deceive) the bike appears to be a very complete and very original example. Sporting a great-looking shorty Yoshimura single-muffler slip-on and no other apparent mods, the bike presents itself very well in the photos. The seller indicates that he has the original mufflers in like-new condition and the passenger seat cowl is in place. No crash damage is evident from the pics, and the wheels are nearly spotless, indicating a well cared for Interceptor. The fuel tank also appears to be in excellent condition. The seller indicates that the bike has newer tires, regular maintenance and is in "immaculate original condition."

The $3500 asking price seems to reflect the higher miles, and if that's not a deal breaker this one would make a great rider and should never lose any value.

This weekend Chicago hosts the International Motorcycle Show. Patti and I make the show every year for a winter bike fix. This year we braved a 10-inch snowfall to make the 45-minute drive, but the experienced Chicago area snow crews had managed to clear a path just for us. We take in the Friday afternoon show for lesser crowds and this year the snow kept more folks safe at home. Even though it's a lot of "more of the same" each year, we still like to make the rounds to see what's new and collect our Progressive Insurance T-shirt and coffee mug. On the way home we make a traditional stop at nearby Rex's Italian Deli for some epic take-out lasagna to be enjoyed at home with some red wine. Makes for a great day, despite the Chi-town weather.

Honda had their large and impressive space set up to highlight the new Gold Wing. The A/V backdrop wall is a non-stop ride video and really adds to the ambiance. Three Gold Wings were on display and there was lots of interest from paunchy grey-hairs (like myself).

My showroom impression is that the new bike looks sleeker and lighter, has a very comfortable rider/passenger perch but is still a massive motorcycle. Still, it seems to fit me pretty well....

The sole V4 in attendance was this red VFR1200X set up for ADV duty. No sign of an Interceptor.

Royal Enfield stepped up their game this year, what with the introduction of the new 650 twins and announcing that the Himalayan ADV bike will be available in the U.S this year. The twins will come in a cafe-racer style (Continental GT) and a standard street version, using the Interceptor name. Not sure how they get away with that, though in all fairness Royal Enfield was using the Interceptor moniker long before Honda. I was very impressed with the twins; the build quality looks great and they nailed the "heritage" styling. And that chrome tank never gets old.

Allstate Insurance hosted a kid's riding area again this year. I thought that this little girl who chose the Ducati over the pink ATV shows a lot of future promise.

There's a very tasteful display of vintage bikes hosted by a couple of local Chicago vintage clubs. Lots of nice British, German and Japanese oldies.

Customs are not my cup of tea, as a rule, but they line the aisles at the show, and I guess you can vote for your favorite. They're mostly garish, unrideable examples of excess, in my humble opinion, but the craftsmanship and creativity can't be denied.

I thought this rat-style build was cooler than the never-ending lineup of S&S-engined choppers with 40-inch front wheels (?). It's based upon, of all things, a '92 Kawasaki Ninja ZX750. It would fit right in on the set of The Walking Dead, what with its rebar crash bars and a crossbow mounted on the swingarm.

All in all, a great mid-winter respite.

What: 2012 VFR1200F Interceptor
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Why: Rare '12 model in blue, good value
Price: $6800

Honda had high sales expectations when it introduced the VFR1200F in 2010. Too many of the ubiquitous red beasts were produced that year so that, to my knowledge, none were titled as 2011 models in the U.S.

For 2012 the DCT transmission was tweaked for improved drivability and traction control was added (good idea). And the color for that year is this distinctive Glint Wave Blue Metallic. The equally rare 2013 came in Darkness Black — who comes up with those names?

This example shows only 5000 miles and includes some nice-to-have extras. From the seller:
"Looking to sell my Honda VFR1200F which is in beautiful condition with many tasteful mods done by myself. The bike is in exceptional condition and has been very well maintained. I have added a few additional thing to make a great bike better. I have added the Brazzaz Z Bomb, Servo Eliminator, Power commander 5, Dam Exhaust, Pazzo Levers, Throttle Meister Lock and SW Motech Tank Bag. All of which go with the bike when sold. The bike has a little over 5k on the ODO and has been ridden by an older experienced rider. I am selling it for $6800."

The VFRdiscussion.com listing may require registration to view, but here's a video clip of the exhaust music:

Ducati has chosen a new superbike path, and it centers around a V4 engine configuration. Having reached a practical end point in development for their iconic L-twin regarding power, European emissions compliance and a (twin cylinder) racing displacement handicap, the twins are out and a new four-cylinder era begins. Note that this development only applies to their superbike program; the more pedestrian models will continue for the foreseeable future with the L-twin. There has actually been a previous V4 production model, but it was more of a limited production — the Desmosedici RR.

Having owned three Ducatis, I can attest to their appeal, but at the expense of everyday livability. The visceral riding experience, the combination of torque and power, the crisp and composed handling, the sound, even the name on the tank — it's all part of the Ducati experience. But when the ride was over, I was spent. It was work if done correctly. The revs were to be kept above 4000, the brakes had better be ABS-equipped, the traction managed. Then there's the maintenance.... But it's great fun, and when I climbed off the machine, I always stepped back, admired the beast and gave an involuntary, "Wow." Then there's the maintenance....

The first of the street line is the 2018 Pinigale V4. It's gorgeous. And it makes more than 200hp.
There's some good videos on Ducati's website:

From Autoblog:
"To put this in terms readers not intimately familiar with Ducati's history can relate to, the controversial move to a V4 is akin to Porsche's bandonment of air-cooled engines, or the electrification of hypercars. The 1,103-cc V4 shares a layout with Ducati's exotic MotoGP race bike. Unlike the more conventional 180-degree crankshaft found on V4-powered bikes such as the Aprilia RSV4, the Ducati employs a 70-degree crank pin offset and a twin-pulse firing pattern that makes it run like two back-to-back V-twins, firing with a 1-2 pulse along one bank, a brief pause, then another 3-4 pulse. Close your eyes, and it sounds bit like a Ducati V-twin, but with a slightly less irregular and staccato rhythm. The sound is deep, bold and familiar — related, but not exactly the same."

Here's a short video of the heart of the beast, the V4:

From Motorcycle Classics magazine:
The 1951 Vincent Black Lightning ridden by Aussie Jack Ehret in 1952 to an Australian Land Speed Record of 140.509mph sold at Bonhams’ 2018 Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction for a breath-taking $840,000 — a figure that jumps to $929,000 with buyer’s premium! In original, unrestored condition save for a recent mechanical reconditioning by Vincent specialist Patrick Godet in France.

The Vincent was just one of a number of big earners at the Jan. 25, 2018, Bonhams sale. A 1939 Brough Superior SS80 pulled in $120,500, and another Vincent, this time a 1955 Series D Black Prince, drew $104,650. Another record was the $92,000 achieved for a 1990 Honda VFR750R RC30, the most ever paid for the model.

Bonhams’ says it achieved a 75 percent sell-through on approximately 105 lots for a total of $2.86 million. That’s down from 2017’s approximately $4.5 million on 252 lots, but the average sale at the 2018 auction was much higher: $27,238 versus an average sale of $17,857 at the 2017 auction. No doubt the Ehret Vincent pulled the 2018 average up, but overall performance was good.